China's air force flies combat patrol over disputed islands

Filipinos and Vietnamese residents shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally outside the Chinese Consulate to call on China to respect the international arbitration ruling favoring the Philippines on the disputed group of islands in the South China Sea Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in the financial district of Makati city east of Manila, Philippines. The protesters denounced China over its continued defiance of the Tribunal ruling and warned it's alleged violations of its obligations "will surely damage its credibility and worsen its image in the international arena." (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

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Filipinos and Vietnamese residents shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally outside the Chinese Consulate to call on China to respect the international arbitration ruling favoring the Philippines on the disputed group of islands in the South China Sea Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in the financial district of Makati city east of Manila, Philippines. The protesters denounced China over its continued defiance of the Tribunal ruling and warned it's alleged violations of its obligations "will surely damage its credibility and worsen its image in the international arena." (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

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Image 3 of 3

Filipinos and Vietnamese residents shout slogans while displaying placards during a rally outside the Chinese Consulate to call on China to respect the international arbitration ruling favoring the Philippines on the disputed group of islands in the South China Sea Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in the financial district of Makati city east of Manila, Philippines. The protesters denounced China over its continued "defiance of the Tribunal ruling." (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

BEIJING – China's air force says it has conducted a combat air patrol over disputed areas of the South China Sea to improve its fighting ability.

The announcement comes after Beijing said it wanted to tamp down tensions following its strong rejection of an international tribunal that ruled that its claim to virtually all of the South China Sea has no legal basis.

The announcement Saturday didn't mention when the exercises took place. Last month, after the July 12 ruling, the air force said that it had conducted patrols over the South China Sea and would make it "a regular practice."

In a statement, air force spokesman Senior Col. Shen Jinke said the patrol was "to enhance combat capabilities to deal with various security threats" and to safeguard the country's sovereignty.